NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State returns to action after an off-week and will return to Ohio Valley Conference play with a trip to Martin, Tenn. The Tigers bring a 3-1 record to the contest against the 2-2 Skyhawks. The game is also the first game in the Sgt. York Trophy series for TSU and the second for UT Martin after a 31-17 victory over Tennessee Tech a week ago.

Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. at Graham Stadium and will be nationally televised on the American Sports Network. Mike Gleason will handle play-by-play duties while Derrick Lewis provides analysis. The game can be heard on WVOL 1470-AM with Greg Pogue (play-by-play), Albert Dawson (analyst) and Gary Dawson (sideline) can. The pregame show will begin at 2:00 p.m.

The Tigers will look to avenge last year’s 21-16 loss at Hale Stadium during the 25th meeting with UT Martin. TSU leads the series 15-9 which dates back to 1976, a 26-21 victory for UTM. In recent years, the two teams have alternated victories over the past five seasons.

Last year, UTM staved off a Tiger comeback after building a 21-1 over the first three quarters. TSU scored two fourth quarter touchdowns through the air to get within five with just over four minutes to play.

Michael German connected with Weldon Garlington on a 26-yard scoring play and Ryan Mitchell for a 75-yard touchdown giving the Tigers a chance. UTM produced a solid run game over the final four minutes to run out the clock.

The Tigers outgained the Skyhawks 367-210, including a 314-67 advantage through the air, only to see UTM outrush TSU 143-53. The Skyhawks also won the time-of-possession battle by nearly nine minutes.

The last time out, Tennessee State overcame a 14-7 deficit in the third quarter and went on to score 23 unanswered points. Quarterback Ronald Butler experienced his best day as a Tiger throwing for a career high three touchdowns and 238 yards, while rushing for a personal best 67 yards.

Patrick Smith proved to be Butler’s favorite receiver of the night as he collected eight passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The duo teamed up on a 38-yard pass in the third to tie the game at 14-14 and again in the fourth for 39 yards for a 23-14 lead.

Smith leads the team in receptions with 19 for 412 yards and has scored five touchdowns in four games. Butler has completed 56 percent of his passes (25-for-45) in three games this season for 447 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. The junior play-caller has played in the absence of O’Shay Ackerman-Carter who was knocked out in the second quarter at Jacksonville State three weeks ago.

Ackerman-Carter, listed as a game-time decision, has completed 57 percent (38-for-67) of his passes for 467 yards and four scoring passes while surrendering one pick.

Defensively, linebacker Chris Collins leads the Tigers with 32 tackles, 15 solo and 17 assists, and has 3.5 tackles-for-lose for 13 yards. Linebacker Van Williams tops the team with five tackles-for-loss, while recording 21 tackles in three contests, averaging seven per game in three contests.

The Skyhawks have dropped games to FBS No. 14 Ole Miss and FCS No. 1 Jacksonville State. Despite the two losses, UTM has produced when they have the ball and are second in the conference in scoring offense averaging 36.8 points per game. The success comes behind an offensive line who has surrendered just one sack on the season.

The time in the backfield has allowed quarterback Jarod Neal to complete 90 passes in 143 attempts for 1, 069 yards and 14 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Rod Wright and Caylon Weathers lead the receiving corps with 26 and 21 catches, respectively. Wright has totaled 355 yards averaging 88.8 yards per game to go along with Weathers who has amassed 253 yards and is averaging 63.2 yards per game.

UTM sports three defenders with 20-plus tackles. James Gilleylen leads the Skyhawks with 27 tackles, Damani Taylor has 26 tackles and Kevin Prather, Jr. has racked up 23. Taylor tops UTM with 4.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles-for-loss. Jordan Landry has proved to be a relentless pass defender with five pass breakups on the season.